Luggage with Removable Laptop Computer Compartment

ABSTRACT

A carrying case is comprised of a valise or brief case with an internal compartment for a computer case which is tethered to the valise and which may be fully removed through an opening in the valise to which it is tethered. The computer storage case includes at least one side made of a mesh or transparent fabric or material so that the contents of the computer case may be visually inspected and so that the computer case can be totally segregated and yet remain tethered to the luggage item or valise.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a utility application based upon provisional application Ser.No. 61/045,699 filed Apr. 17, 2008 entitled “Luggage with RemovableLaptop Computer Compartment” for which priority is claimed and which isincorporated herewith by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a business valiseor case in combination with a computer carrying case. More particularly,the invention relates to a business brief case or luggage item which isdesigned to house a personal computer (PC) in a sleeve or case which maybe removed from the brief case but remain tethered thereto to ensurethat the computer will not be forgotten when, for example, beinginspected at a Transportation Safety Administration checkpoint orsimilar security checkpoint.

In the United States, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA)requires that personal computers be removed from any carrying case andplaced in a special container for inspection. Similar requirements areimplemented at almost any airport facility throughout the world and atother facilities such as government buildings where security is aconcern. Statistics suggest that over a quarter of all persons travelingby air carry a laptop/personal computer with them when they pass througha screening checkpoint. Required removal of the laptop from a case forinspection is a common complaint. Although it poses an inconvenience topassengers, it is a necessary requirement to ensure proper x-ray imagingof the laptop computer. Maintaining the personal computer within a carrybag becomes typically inappropriate inasmuch as the other contents ofthe bag may interfere with the inspection process. To obviate thesedifficulties in the United States, the Transportation SafetyAdministration has provided performance criteria for computer carry bagsor cases that have the following characteristics:

The bag and laptop must be viewed in a single x-ray image. Effectivex-ray visualization and screening of the laptop must therefore beensured by the design of the carrying case. The case must be designed tominimize any damage to the personal computer during the screeningprocess.

The need for a computer carry case design in which the PC may remain isenhanced by the recognition of the fact that thousands of PC's are notreclaimed following inspection at checkpoint stations throughout theworld on a weekly basis. Thus the inconvenience of the inspectionprocess coupled with the potential misplacement or loss of a personalcomputer has incited various inspection authorities to solicit ways toovercome the described problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a luggage item, brief case orvalise which includes a special computer carrying case that is removablefrom the valise but which remains attached by a tether to the interiorof the valise or luggage item. Thus, the computer case with a computer(PC) stored therein may be removed from the brief case or valise andplaced on a conveyor belt for purposes of inspection visually as well asby an x-ray or other screening device. The case with the PC therein maythen be easily replaced within the luggage item or valise. The tetherensures that the computer case will remain connected with the businessluggage or brief case. The computer carrying case has a design whichrequires, in an embodiment, that one of the sides of the carrying caseto be made from a generally transparent mesh or another transparentmaterial. Also importantly the computer carrying case is made from x-rayand screening device transparent fabric and other materials. Forexample, no metallic zippers are utilized. The tether is typically aband of a fabric which is flexibly attached to the outside of the bottomside of the computer carrying case and which extends through a medialopening in the luggage item into the interior of the luggage item whereit is attached to the bottom side or one of the other inside surfaces ofthe luggage item to maintain the tether connection. Placement of thecomputer case within the medial portion of the valise provides extrasecurity and cushioning for the computer within the case. Thetransparency of the case both visually and with respect to x-rayinspection and screening equipment permits ease of inspection by thesecurity authorities. The tethering of the computer case to the luggageitem ensures that the case will remain associated with the luggage itemfor purposes of identification and effectively reminds the traveler ofthe need to maintain custody of the computer within the carrying case. Azippered opening to the interior of the computer case enables ease ofremoval of the computer in the event the inspection officials desire toconduct an enhanced examination. Various embodiments of the inventiondepict removal of the computer case from the top of a brief case orluggage item as well as from one of the opposite ends thereof.

Thus it is an object to the invention to provide an improved luggageitem which includes a computer case tethered to the larger luggage itemwhich is storable and removable from that larger luggage item whileremaining tethered so as to enable inspection at a travel checkpoint.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inspection caseassociated with a larger luggage item wherein the inspection case istransparent to enable visual as well as x-ray inspection techniques.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luggage item whichprovides enhanced cushioning for protection for a computer within aseparate carrying case inside the luggage item.

A further object of the invention is to provide an economical, easy touse, and easy to carry combination computer carrying case and luggageitem.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention willbe set forth in a detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to thedrawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right hand end view of the view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a back side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a left side end view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 1wherein the computer case is shown in solid lines and the carrying casethat receives the computer case is in phantom;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the embodiment of the carrying case ofthe invention of FIG. 1 wherein the computer case is partially removedtherefrom;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 wherein thecomputer case is entirely removed from the carrying case;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a computercase in combination with an associated carrying case;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention wherein a computer case is depicted in solid lines within thephantom lines indicating a carrying case and wherein the computer caseis removable laterally from an end of the carrying case;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 12 whereinthe carrying case is removable laterally from the carrying case;

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the carrying casewherein the computer case is removable from the opposite lateral end ofthe carrying case illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a computer case removable from a lateralside of a carrying case; and

FIG. 16 is another alternative embodiment of a computer case removablelaterally from a carrying case.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The remainingfigures illustrate alternative embodiments. In the embodiment of FIGS.1-11, a computer carrying case is removable from the top of theassociated valise, luggage item or the like. In the embodiments of FIGS.12-16, the computer carrying case is removable from one lateral end oran opposite lateral end of a luggage item. Thus, the followingdescription will initially be focused upon the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11.

The case (valise, brief case, luggage item or the like) typically iscomprised of an array of sides forming a generally parallelepiped itemincluding a front side 20, a back side 22, a first lateral end or side24 and an opposite lateral end or side 26, a top side 28 and a bottomside 30. Typically the sides forming the luggage item or case arereinforced in some manner. For example, the side panels may be comprisedof fabric which encapsulates or covers a polyethylene board. A wireframe may be incorporated to maintain the shape of the case. Variousother means of construction may be utilized to enable the luggage itemto maintain its shape or configuration. There is some flexibility withsuch constructions, however, but typically the luggage items areconfigured and constructed to maintain a shape that protects thecontents thereof.

In the embodiment depicted, the case includes a first compartment 32with a top side 28 access zipper opening 34 which extends partiallyalong lateral sides 24, 26 and the top side 28 of the luggage item. Asecond lateral compartment 36 is likewise constructed so that a zippermechanism 38 may be used to provide access to the compartment 36.Importantly, the first compartment 32 and the second compartment 36define a region or space therebetween comprising a medial compartment40. The medial compartment 40 is bounded on opposite sides by fabricwalls 41, 43 which may be cushioned. The medial compartment 40 isaccessible through a medial opening 42 along the top side 28. The medialopening 42 extends partially down the opposite lateral or end sides 24and 26 in the embodiment depicted. A zipper 44 enables access throughthe medial opening 42 to the medial compartment 40. In the embodimentdepicted, the medial compartment 40 is maintained between othercompartments 32, 36 to provide protective function for the medialcompartment 40. Additionally, the medial compartment 40 is segregatedfrom the other compartments by walls 41, 43 and contains a computercarrying case 60 which is removable from the medial compartment 40.Carry handles, such as handles 50 and 52, are attached to the top side28 for transport of the luggage case. Optional buckles such as buckles54, 56 may be engaged by a carry strap (not shown) to facilitatecarrying the luggage item or case.

FIG. 8 depicts in greater detail, computer carrying case 60 whichincludes a peripheral side 62, a first lateral side 64 of generallytransparent or see through mesh, a second lateral side 66 which isgenerally opaque, a bottom side 68 as well as a top side 70 to which ahandle 72 is attached. The mesh first lateral side 64, as depicted forexample in FIG. 11, may comprise a transparent plastic material.Preferably there are no metal components incorporated in the computercarrying case 60. This is to ensure that the computer carrying case 60will be x-ray transparent.

A band of fabric material 80 comprising a tether connects from theinside of the bottom side 30 of the luggage case to the bottom side 68of the computer carrying case 60. The band 80 is attached along the topmargin 82 of the computer case 60 by means of a plastic zipper 84. Thezipper 84 as well as the tether or band 80 are x-ray transparent toavoid interference with x-ray or visual inspection of the contents ofthe computer case 60. The band 80 preferably extends at least themajority of the distance between the opposite lateral sides 62 and 63 ofthe computer carrying case 60. The band 80 has a length which enablestotal removal of the case 60 from the medial compartment 40 of theluggage item. Preferably the removal permits separation of at least inthe range of 2-4 inches from the luggage item so that the combination ofthe luggage item and the computer case 60 can lie flat on a conveyorwhich passes through a checkpoint inspection station such as an x-raymachine.

Padding is typically provided on the inside of the computer case 60 toprotect contents. The adjacent compartments 32, 36 are segregated orseparate from the medial compartment 40 preferably by padded fabricmaterial or walls 41, 43. This provides for adequate protection for thecontents of the computer case 60. It also enables for minimizing thematerial that is necessary to make the computer case 60 so that it canbe easily moved in and out of the luggage item while still providing ameans for protection of the contents of the computer case 60.

The computer case 60 includes a zippered opening 86 along its top edgeon the top side 70 so that a computer may be inserted or easily removedfrom the case 60. The handle 72 is flexible and x-ray transparent toenable placement in the medial compartment 40 yet provide for easyaccess for removal of the case 60 from the medial compartment 40. Thedimensions of the case 60 are within the guidelines established byinspection authorities and provide for storage of a generallyparallelepiped computer case 60. Additional inspection of the contentsthereof may be easily effected by detaching the carrying case 60 and byoperation of the zipper 84 as well as the zipper 86 to remove thecontents of the computer case 60.

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention. In FIG.12, a carrying case 90 includes a first lateral side 92 wherein acomputer carrying case or storage case 94 is removably lateral through azippered opening 96 in the side 92 of the luggage item 90. Again atether 98 is provided which extends from the bottom side of the case 94into the interior of the luggage item 90 and which is of adequate lengthto enable total removal of the computer case 94. FIGS. 12 and 13indicate removal of a computer case from one lateral side. FIGS. 14 and16 illustrate removal from the opposite side. FIG. 15 is associated withthe embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13. In each event, a tether 98 isprovided which preferably extends a majority of the distance laterallybetween the sides of the computer case 94. Additionally, the tether 98is adequately long enough to permit complete removal from the carryingcase 90 and to permit the computer case 94 to lie flat upon a belt forpassing into an inspection device such as an x-ray inspection device.

While there is set forth embodiments of the invention it is to beunderstood that the invention is to be limited only by the followingclaims and equivalents thereof.

1. A carrying case comprising, a generally parallelepiped outer caseincluding first and second opposite lateral sides, first and secondopposite end sides, a bottom side, a top side, a medical compartmentaccessible through a medial opening in the top side, said opening andmedial compartment extending between the opposite end sides of the case,a first adjacent compartment adjacent one side of the medialcompartment; a second adjacent compartment adjacent the opposite side ofthe medial compartment; a first opening in the top side to the firstcompartment, a second opening in the top side to the second compartment;a separate generally parallelepiped computer case fully locatable in themedial compartment, said computer case having a first lateral side inopposition to the first adjacent compartment, a second lateral side inopposition to the second adjacent compartment, a bottom side, first andsecond spaced opposite end sides, and a top side with an access openingto the interior of the computer case, a first dimension substantiallybetween the top side and bottom side of the computer case, a flexibleattachment tether band extending a majority of the spacing between thespaced end sides of the computer case and attached to the bottom side ofthe computer case and extendable longitudinally from the bottom side ofthe carrying case to the bottom side of the computer case positionedoutside the carrying case through the medial opening, the first lateralside of the computer case fabricated from a generally visuallytransparent material, said computer case fabricated solely fromnon-metallic materials; wherein the band comprises a flexible fabrictether to enable the removal of the computer case through the medialopening for exposure of the first lateral side and inspection of thecontents of the computer case through the first lateral side of thecomputer case.
 2. The carrying case of claim 1 further including areleasable fastener connecting the band to the bottom side of thecomputer case.